He didn't believe he could do anything about them himself.

"I'm a journalist and thought my job was limited to holding up a mirror to society," he told Focus recently. "But a friend one day asked, 'But what are you doing about it?' That set me thinking."

It happened some two years ago. And it set the ball rolling.

Today Brampton-based Vipul Jani has set up a not-for-profit, Parivartan ('Change,' or 'Transformation') that, among other things, is seeking to bring some much-needed order to India's traffic chaos; help educate the children of families who are needy but don't officially fall below the poverty line; and is in the process of clearing garbage from city streets.

That's for starters.

Together with a small but dedicated band of like-minded associates Jani has started up these projects across several cities in Gujarat.

But that too's just for starters, for he's now seeking to scale up such projects across like-minded groups and across geographical regions.

"I hail from Ahmedabad, so my initial attempts are focused on Gujarat. But there's nothing to prevent such projects from being replicated across other parts of India, or elsewhere," he pointed out.

He's now trying to get the GTA's Indian diaspora aboard.

Jani reasons there are various influential Indo-Canadian groupings here that wield an influence and enjoy considerable goodwill in various parts of India. In their turn, most of these groups would like to try and do their mite towards society - pay back their debt to the places that equipped them for their eventual success, as it were.

Many however don't know how - just as he himself didn't, some two years ago.

Jani's trying to reach out to such folk through two initiatives he's now starting.

"The virtual world can be immensely powerful and can help us bridge the gap and reach out to each other," he says. "Accordingly, I'm trying to put together two portals - www.canadianindianorganisations.com, and www.canadianmandir.com - to help us pool our resources and be a force for good in society."

As Editor and Publisher of the long-running Gujarat Abroad weekly newspaper in the GTA, Jani is already known in several influential circles as an activist who sincerely means well for society.

"But I've also had people musing, 'He must be doing it for his own benefit,'" he admits candidly.

"The truth is I've often dipped into my pocket to get these initiatives going. At the same time, I've learnt to be totally non-judgemental, striving to work with everyone's strengths in a positive atmosphere.

"And I'm not doing it for myself: I tell people, 'Don't use my name, put yours at the top instead. But let's try to bring about a change for the better."

Jani's now reaching out to like-minded people, religious organizations and Indo-Canadian associations. For details call 905-846-4988.

Straight from the heart

In Vipul Jani's own words:

- Parivartan is trying to clean up the streets in Gujarat, literally.

We are asking people to get involved, keep the streets clean and take part in clean-up efforts.

We will provide you a truck, driver and cleaner, all for free. Just come in and supervise the efforts in your own area or neighbourhood. It's for your own health.

We will provide the driver's and the cleaner's salaries as well. However we do need help to buy a small garbage truck as we do not have any sponsors at all.

We do not have resources or a big team of volunteers - but we have faith in people. We have started these campaigns a year ago and are now asking for people's help and participation to take them forward. The idea is to set an example and get people directly involved in their day-to-day affairs.

- We invite you to sponsor a child's education for one year.

We try and help lower middle class families who are not officially "poor" but are struggling to pay for their children's education. They are often too shy to seek such financial help.

For $200 a year, you can sponsor a child's school fees, textbooks and stationery for one year.

We will provide you with the student's name, school's name and contact details, and you can keep in touch with them directly if you wish.

- For more information, visit www.parivartan.ca, or call (in Brampton) 905-846-4988